Colores y Sabores en Barra

I went over to Barra to get a free computer yesterday from "Fast Eddie" and decided to check out the 3 day event - Colores y Sabores - on the Barra Plaza. Lots of Colores but no Sabores. Maybe later in the day along with the music and dancing. Lots like a Tianguis but almost all crafts. Pretty cool stuff but nothing I needed.

Every time I've been in Barra the old fotos museum has been closed but yesterday it was open. I only took the one foto as I thought they might not like cameras and a flash. Nice collection if you can find it open. It's located in the Hotel Tropical

He's all dressed up - maybe Oaxaca 

Ceramics

Little purses - all for women

Camping on te beach before the Malecon

Last Saturday for Carne Asada

The construction project in West Melaque has come down to the last week so we decided to have a carne asada party on te last Saturday. Only about two months work this year because of a mix up on Seguro and a troublesome Presta Nombre. Next year should be smoother and be able to work for a full 3 months. Workers can only work while the Canadians are here to oversee the work and to pay them and Seguro.

Harris and Audrey bought the meat and for the first time I had marinated pork asada (adobada). I bought all the veggies, avocados, carbon (charcoal) and a cubeta (bucket) of cerveza. After plenty of work and plenty of food, everyone was too tired to drink many of those small Coronitas (small Coronas). I came home with 5 of the 24.

So Thursday will be the last day of work and Harris and I will get lessons on how to paint the rebar with a cement wash. We were thinking to paint with the usual orange protection paint but the Maestro says the cement won't stick to paint. When they are ready to work again and go higher .... just tap the rebar and the cement will fall off. 

Chef for the day

Beef, pork and onions

Serve yourself

Cooked and to be cooked

Novena after the funeral

The Catholic tradition of Novena after a funeral is to have a wake in front of the families house for nine days for a few hours in the evening. On the ninth day everyone goes over to the church and the Padre says a few words. Then everybody marches back to the house for a big feed.

The feed this time was Pozole that Lorena started making the day before. It cooked all day of the ninth and was still on the fire when I came to get it with my van. It took two of us using damp rags because the pot was super hot. We had to put cardboard down so it wouldn't burn the van carpets.

Enough Pozole to feed over 30 people with plenty left over for the next day. A bunch of indigenous kids sat quietly on the sidewalk until everybody else was fed and then they were called over to line up for food and drink.

In remembrance of Pillo

Service was breaking up when I got there

Pozole on the fire

Dishing it up

The kids table

Indigenous kids got fed too

Pillo is gone as of last night

Pillo, a fixture in our community, died last night in Manzanillo. He's now in the box in his apartment and family and friends are holding the wake under the tent. Misa will be at our small church at noon and he will go directly to the Panteon. A couple guys from the family are digging the hole and blocking it in. Family didn't have the money to preserve him so he has to go into the ground quickly. Not sure we'll have time to buy flowers for the grave but we can do it later. Now we're trying to figure out where the money is coming from.

Our small church with Pillo and the coffin up front. The priest went on and on for over an hour talking about religion, God and the church with only brief mention of Pillo and his family. Guess he has to earn his pay.

Putting him in the hearse for the trip to the Panteon (Cemetary)

At the entrance to the Cemetary waiting for the grave to be finished

The grave which will soon be topped with a poured in place cement lid.

Lowering him in

Over 50 people in a caravan of 10 cars came to the Panteon. Lots of flowers sitting on the wet cement lid. I was kind of expecting someone to give a eulogy or say something but nothing.

Disgraceful Republicans

I hope no one reading this calls themselves a Republican after this disgraceful act and the ridiculous lineup of clowns they have running for president. The US of A should be ashamed of what has happened to the country.

Calechosa visit

Pool with a view

Calechosa sunset

Barbara or Babs, the Blogger from San Miguel is spending about a month on the beach. She is staying with her long time friend that lives in Calechosa or Ranchito Beach. First time I was over there her friend was living in a trailer waiting to build but the Ejido didn't want him to. Finally, he got permission and now has a very pretty house with a great view. His house was the only one over there for awhile but Canadian developers are selling community lots next to him .... that aren't selling very fast.

I spent about two hours on the patio talking with Barbara as we kinda brought each other up to the present on each others lives. Very enjoyable time and a great view over the pool into Cuastecomate Bay. I wanted to leave before dark because the road in from Ranchito is very rough and longer than I remember. I stopped by the beach to capture the sunset

15% discount on taxes and water

This is from Autlan but it goes for most of Mexico including the Municipio of Cihuatlan. Pay your taxes and water bills in January or February and get a 15% discount. Many of the locals don't pay at all and the only tax collecting that will ever take place is during a property transfer at the time of sale.